Even as post-season fields in the state of Texas have expanded for most sports, the field for swimming has remained steady at 16 per event for each of the two divisions.
Now, the University Interscholastic League (UIL), the body that governs the state’s high school sports for public schools and a very small number of private schools, has voted to increase that to 24 per event for the 2016-2017 season.
The recommendation will be put on a referendum which will be submitted, along with other changes, to the state’s superintendents. That referendum is binding, and if voted in favor, would take effect on August 1, 2016.
Texas, despite being one of the largest states in population, has had one of the most limiting state selection processes in recent years. The state offers only two levels in swimming for schools with different populations – a 6A championship for the largest schools, and a 5A & under championship for the smaller schools.
Historically, each event (200 medley relay, 200 IM, 200 free, 50 free, etc.) would have 16 swimmers at the state meet, with each swimmer qualifying for the meet scoring points for their respective teams. Swimmers advance based on placings, rather than time standards, in Texas, with each of 8 regional champions earning a bid to the annual meet in Austin, and the other spots being filled in with wild-cards from across the state.
The UIL has also voted to create two ad hoc committees: one studying new and emerging activities (which will undoubtedly include water polo), and the other to review playoff structures for all athletic activities. The latter could include a review of whether the state would move to a time standard qualification for post-season swimming activities.
Other Changes recommended:
- Track athletes will no longer be limited to just two races 400-meters or longer as a part of their three running events maximum.
- An increase in fees for sports officials was approved.
I agree- it makes SO much more sense to have 1st from each region then the next 16 times. It makes State more competitive, and better represents the fastest HS swimming has to offer in Texas.
The UIL has always been in favor of Regional Representation. If the official Tisca Proposal had only offered one Automatic Qualifier from each Region and 16 call-ups, it is my professional opinion, as a Tisca Representative, that it likely would have failed to advance through the UIL approval process. We should all be appreciative of this UIL action that will, likely, increase the number of participants in the Texas State Swimming & Diving competition, establish a “true” Prelims to Finals qualification process, (24 in Prelims, with 16 advancing to Finals) and allow some of our best Texas HS swimmers an expanded opportunity to move through Regional competition without tapering and shaving. That will likely result in the potential for greater… Read more »
This favors every region except Houston. Houston’s region which includes all of the Austin teams as well is so deep and fast that their top 2 already make it. Good teams in weaker regions are going to be allowed to clean up at their regional meet and send so many people to state. The state meet is all about how many you qualify to have a chance to win it all.
Houston and Austin have some fine swimmers. But so does North Texas, and there are some fine swimmers in the San Antonio area. Comparing the North Tisca Meet with the Gulf Tisca Meet, shows some good parity between the two areas. Most of us know that a large portion of the Texas State Qualifiers come from four Regions, two in Houston and two in Dallas, with some pretty darn good swimmers from San Antonio and the other Regions
In “24 to State”, only two swimmers are promised to advance from each Region.
Then they have to finish in the Top 16 at the State Meet to even score a point.
So, if there are two “fast” swimmers in each… Read more »
So glad they are finally doing this. However, it would have made for better races and finals if it was 1st from each region and then 16 callups, instead of 1 & 2 from each region an 8 callups. Sigh.